Nudge as fudge: Bogus gov online test tells people on dole they're just SO employable

Bogus gov online test tells people on dole they're just SO employable • The Register: "The psychometric test in question is supposedly designed to assess an unemployed person’s “signature strengths”. However, it was actually primed to give nothing but positive statements regarding the user's employability, regardless of whether any information was input at all.
Apparently inspired by the writings of Martin Seligman - the prof whose work in torturing dogs with electric shocks later influenced development of American "enhanced interrogation techniques" such as waterboarding in the War On Terror - the DWP's new test was initially used to assess the personalities of dole claimants in Loughton, Essex. Now, however, it appears to be being used across the country.
The programme was created by the government's Behavioural Insights Team (also known as the "nudge unit") - a shadowy and ever-so-slightly ludicrous Cabinet Office department which uses behavioural economics and psychological techniques to create a supposedly better society." 'via Blog this'

Google's collision course with member states

EUobserver.com / Opinion / Google's collision course with member states: "If, in the wake of the most recent meetings and investigations announcement, Google maintains its unwillingness to modify fundamental provisions of its privacy policy in response to the Working Group’s concerns, it seems likely that at least some member states, including some or all of the five identified as opening their own investigations, will take enforcement action against the company.
The regulators have issued so many warnings to Google, and the issues raised are so integral to how Europeans view their fundamental human rights, that it is difficult to see how the EU regulators can back down. They likely will calculate – reasonably – that failure to act now will encourage similar actions by numerous other companies and strike a blow to meaningful deterrence of future privacy violations." 'via Blog this'

Rivals smart after Almunia plays it safe in Google case

Rivals smart after EU plays it safe in Google case | Reuters: "ICOMP lawyer David Wood, referring to the documents, stated: "There is no reason to think why an Article 7 would not be more effective and quicker than an Article 9, even now." Critics may still demand a more extensive investigation into Google and time may not be on Almunia's side. "The Commissioner's mandate expires somewhere in the fall of 2014. Under an Article 7 procedure, he might no longer (be) ... in office to sign the prohibition decision," Petit said. "In short, to put the Google case on his hunt list, Almunia needed a settlement."" 'via Blog this'

Promises on net neutrality and election of new Commission

Net neutrality in Europe: Promises on net neutrality and election of new Com...: It's always good to look back at the record, and here's the confirmation for the brand new DG INFSO (now CONNECT) Commissioner , wh...

Google’s EU battles far from over

“Some labels would be likely to be ineffective or even affirmatively harmful,” warned Ben Edelman, an associate professor at Harvard University who has been a long-time critic of Google’s practices. Labelling a result as a “Google result” would suggest “that a given link is better or more official than the others”.
Another Google adversary, who declined to be named, complained: “This plays straight into Google’s hands. This is exactly where they were already headed (emphasis added - ed.), reducing the number of ‘natural’ search results and revving up their own results – advertising, effectively.”

Opposition to the proposed settlement is set to harden in the coming weeks as the commission subjects it to a “market test” that would allow rivals to present their views. Mr Wood said the process was approaching the stage where the legal rights of the third parties “crystallise”.
In the next phase, Google’s rivals will also have access to a version of the commission’s preliminary findings from its probe, giving them more ammunition as they push the regulators for reasons why issues raised in their formal complaints were rejected. “We are very, very far from the end of how this is going to turn out,” said Mr Wood.

Regulating Code seminars: Oxford 26 April and Cambridge 9 May

Here are the details of our joint Brown-Marsden productions coming up in Oxford, at the Oxford Internet Institute, 4pm on 26 April, and Cambridge, at the Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Law, 5pm on 9 May. Both events will be followed by a chance to interact with the authors (Eagle&Child and The Castle respectively).

Google Privacy Policy Enforcement

Google Privacy Policy Enforcement: "On 19 March 2013, representatives of Google Inc. were invited at their request to meet with the taskforce led by the CNIL and composed of the data protection authorities of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK. According to the CNIL, the lead investigative authority, no change has been seen.
The CNIL press release states that the Article 29 Working Party's analysis is now said to be finalized : 'It is now up to each national data protection authority to carry out further investigations according to the provisions of its national law transposing European legislation.'
The consequnce is that all the authorities composing the taskforce launched actions on 2 April 2013 on the basis of the provisions laid down in their respective national legislation (investigations, inspections, etc.)" 'via Blog this'